Stats: Alastair Cook's struggles against Ravichandran Ashwin in Test cricket

Every time Ravichandran Ashwin picks wickets in the subcontinent experts and critics have repeatedly questioned his calibre to deliver away from home. Ashwin couldn’t find as much moments outside Asia in the past and had a point to prove in the five-match Test series after losing his spot from the limited-overs squads. The off-spinner began the series on high with a 4-wicket haul on the first day of the series; one wicket more than what he took on the previous tour in 2014 where he played two matches.

His hunt started with a beauty to dismiss Alastair Cook, whom he dismissed often during the 2016 home Test series. Once again in the 2nd innings, Ashwin got rid of Cook with a similar delivery that earned him the success in the first innings. It was the 9th time that Ashwin had claimed the wicket of Cook in 12 Test matches they’ve faced off. The is also the first time that the former England skipper got out bowled in both the innings of a Test in his 157-match career.

Alastair Cook vs Ravichandran Ashwin:

Ashwin has conceded 325 runs in the 793 balls he bowled to Cook in Test cricket thus far. The nine dismissals are the joint-most for Ashwin against any batsman in this format. He also removed Australian opener David Warner on nine occasions in 14 Test matches. A total of eight batsmen have got out six and more times in this format to Ashwin with Marlon Samuels being the only right-handed bat. This shows Ashwin’s dominant ability to make the left-handed batsmen his bunny.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s bunnies:

Ashwin stands at the 2nd position in the list of bowlers who have dismissed England’s legendary opener Alastair Cook most times in Test cricket. South African pacer Morne Morkel saw Cook’s back 12 times in 19 matches. Alongside Ashwin, the left-arm pacers Trent Boult and Mitchell Johnson also claimed Cook’s wicket on nine occasions in this format. The off-spinner might end up surpassing Morkel with four more matches left in the series.

Troublemakers in Alastair Cook’s Test career:

(Stats as on August 2, 2018)

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